St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-13

In the Turkish province of Macedo
mia are curious sect known as the Mai
minim, whose origin is associated in
curious way with the Puritan regime in
England. Early in the seventeenth cen
fury a Puritan merchant of London p,
who believed the second advent of
Christ was near at hand, endeavored to
impress his convictions on his personal
friends and on the many commercial
correspondents and agents he possessed
! in various parts of the world. Among
the latter was a certain Mordecai levi,
of Smyrna, prosperous Hebrew trader,
and father of dreamy youth who
passed his days in the local Talmud
school and his nights in the study OF the
Cabbala according to the doubly mystic
Interpretation of Rabbi Luria. Young
Zevi-afterward known as Sabbethai
Zevi-heard frequently of the belief OF
the Second Adventists that the year 1866
was destined to witness the coming
of the Messiah; and eventually he
adopted the idea At the same
time he became possessed of the
idea that he himself was the promised
Saviour of mankind-a discovery which
he lost no time in communicating to the
world The news that the Messiah had
| arrived flew like lightning through the
| whole of Europe. So seriously was it
entertained that two astute Christians
of Amsterdam petitioned General Fair
fax and the council of the preliminary
army to readmit the Jews to England,
on the ground that English shipping
would profit by the transport of the
chosen people to Palestine. Even
Spinoza was startled from his habitual
scepticism by the temporary success of
the pretender, and expressed the opinion
that a reconquest of Palestine by the
| Hebrews was within the range of prac-
teal politics. Miracles and wonders
were reported on all sides. 1t was one
day bruited in London that vessel had
been seen in the north of Scotland with
silken sails and cables, manned by He
brew sailors, and flying pennon bearing
d 11SDlC" lHSSiiptlou w iiCIi ZCsl " oS
imprisoned by the Sultan, it was soberly
reported in England that pillar of fire
lowered over the prophets place of incar-
ceration, and that eunuchs sent by the
vizier to strangle him fell down dead in
his presence. AS matter of fact, levi
did not bear himself very like a Messiah
when summoned before the padishah.
To save his life he went over to Moham-
mechanism.
His many thousand followers now
dwindled away, and to-day but few traces
of them remain. The Maiminim are,
perhaps, the most numerous, as they are
certainly the most interesting, contem-
porary community of his disciples. They
number about 900 families, and to all
outward appearance are orthodox sons
of Islam. Persecution has driven them
to this discrimination, but they put the
best face on their compulsory disguise,
and teach their children that, while the
world was really created for them, the
burden of government and warfare was
imposed on the Mussulmans as punish
ment. They urge this lesson with the
sententious illustration that there is no
egg without SHE'LL" and, indeed, their
designation forathe unbeliever, ''Kelipa,"
Is d CdDdllSllC ltIIu 1OI uldItCi III
orally means shell" They are not united
among themselves. Three sub-sects of
Maiminim exist, known respectively as
Karavejo, Honias, and Jakubites. The
first are descendants of the original dis
ciples of Sabbethai, and the others of
followers of two isciples-Osman Bahia
and Jacob Querido-who advanced
claims to the Messiahship on the death
e IL olo+ n@h how Il
differ either in creed or religious OBJ
servances and social conduct. They
believe in one God of whom Sabbethai
was the prophet. All the great person
ages of the Old Testament-Adam, Abra-
ham, Jacob, Moses, and even Esther
we're only forms of Sabbethania, who
visited the earth eighteen times. The
world outside their own commu-
nifty is divided into Jews and
Kelipas, with neither of whom are they
permitted to marry. The Jews, how
ever, will one day embrace Sabbeism, and
Paradise; but the Kelipas are eternally
destined for the underworld. For the
sale law, which, through their own secret
bIlUuudlS, tucy apply CNoA W ooSutoA VIC
putes. Religious services are performed
twice day in special places of worship
called "kal." With their en-colored
lamps and their congregations clothed
entirely in white, they present rather
weird appearance. The prayers are
read by precentor or ''paytan," partly
in Hebrew and partly in Ladino
or Judea-spanish. The evening service
is preceded by solemn meal, similar to
the agape Of the primitive Christians,
which is eaten in an apartment adjoining
the synagogue and at which the wor-
shippers lay aside their arms in token of
mutual amity. They have only two fes-
rivals of any importance, one Of which,
called THE Feast of the LIANT" is held
to symbolic the bond of love which
unites the community. The other is the
Christmas of the Maiminim. 1t COM
memorates the birth of Sabbethai, and is
held on the Jewish fast day of Tisha-
Beab, the anniversary of the destruction
of the Temple, which levi himself
ordered should be turned into day Of
rejoicing in honor Of his advent.
Although the Maiminim attend mosque
regularly and do their best to disguise
their religious identity by an ostenta-
tious devotion to the dominant church,